A Novel One-Pot Synthesis of N,N-Dimethylaminopyridines by Diazotization of Aminopyridines in Dimethylformamide in the Presence of Trifluoromethanesulfonic Acid

Abstract

Diazotization of aminopyridines in the presence of trifluoromethanesulfonic acid gives the corresponding pyridinyl trifluoromethanesulfonates instead of expected diazonium salts. Pyridinyl trifluoromethanesulfonates can be converted to N,N-dimethylaminopyridines on heating in dimethylformamide via replacement of the trifluoromethanesulfonyloxy group. The reaction is accelerated under microwave irradiation. A novel one-pot procedure has been proposed for the synthesis of 2- and 4-(dimethylamino)pyridines from commercially available aminopyridines. The procedure provides high yields of the target products, and it can be regarded as an alternative to the known methods of synthesis of N,N-dimethylpyridin-4-amine (DMAP) widely used as base catalyst in organic synthesis.